How to Find a Rental Property in Spain
December 27th, 2006
Your success or failure in finding a suitable rental property depends on many factors, not least the type of rental you’re looking for (a one-bedroom apartment is easier to find than a four-bedroom detached house), how much you want to pay and the area in which you wish to live.
Finding a property to rent in Madrid or Barcelona is similar to the situation in London or Paris, where the most desirable properties are often found through personal contacts. There are a number of ways of finding a property to rent, including the following:
Ask your friends, relatives and acquaintances to help spread the word, particularly if you’re looking in the area where you already live. A lot of rental properties, particularly in major cities, are found by word of mouth. You can also look out for ‘to rent’ (se alquila) signs in windows. If you’re looking for an apartment in a block in Madrid or Barcelona, it’s prudent to ask the porter (portero) if there are any vacancies in a building or if anything will be vacant soon;
Check the advertisements in local Spanish newspapers and magazines under alquiler. If you cannot speak Spanish, you may prefer to respond to advertisements in expat publications (including Expatica), where advertisers are likely to speak English or other foreign languages. In major cities there are property newspapers and magazines. There’s little jargon or abbreviations in Spanish rental ads and most can be deciphered without too much trouble;
Visit accommodation and letting agents. Most cities and large towns have estate agents (Agentes de Propiedad Inmobiliaria) who also act as letting agents for owners. It’s often better to deal with an agent than directly with owners, particularly concerning contracts and legal matters. Some agents advertise abroad in property publications and many companies handling holiday rentals also offer longer term rentals, particularly during the winter. Note that agents usually charge commission equal to a half or one month’s rent for long-term rentals. If you wish to avoid agency fees ask before viewing, as advertisers who appear to be private individuals are often agencies;
Check the advertisements in shop windows and on notice boards in shopping centres, supermarkets, universities and colleges, and company offices;
Obtain copies of newsletters published by churches, clubs and expatriate organisations, and also check their notice boards;
To find accommodation through advertisements in local newspapers you must usually be quick off the mark. Buy the newspaper as soon as it’s published and start phoning straight away. You must be available to inspect properties immediately or at any time. Even if you start phoning at the crack of dawn, you’re still likely to find a queue when you arrive to view a choice property in Madrid or Barcelona.
The best days for advertisements are usually Fridays and Saturdays. Advertisers may be private owners, real-estate managers or letting agencies (particularly in major cities). You can insert a ‘rental wanted’ advertisement in many newspapers and on notice boards, but don’t count on success using this method.
Rental costs in Spain vary considerably depending on the size (number of bedrooms), quality and age of a property, and the facilities provided. However, the most significant factor affecting rents is the region of Spain, the city and the particular neighbourhood.
In major cities, particularly Madrid and Barcelona, rental accommodation is in high demand and short supply, and rents are high. A two bedroom, unfurnished apartment (e.g. 75m2) which rents for around EUR 1,200 a month in Madrid or Barcelona, costs around 50 percent less in most smaller cities, and rural and resort areas.
However, rents have risen considerably on the Costa del Sol and in other resort areas in recent years, where there’s a relatively small long-term rental market.
Rents are lowest in small towns and rural areas, although good rented accommodation is often difficult to find. As a general rule, the further a property is from a large city or town (or town centre), public transport or other facilities, the cheaper it is.
Many Spanish families live in communal high-rise property developments called urbanizaciones (which surround Spanish cities), where rents are much lower than in city centres. Rents are also dictated by supply and demand and are naturally higher in cities than in rural and resort areas (except for short lets during the high season).
Rents are calculated according to the number of bedrooms (dormitorios) and the floor area (in square metres). In cities, an apartment with a terrace or balcony is usually more expensive. Generally, the higher an apartment is in a block, the more expensive it is (you pay for the view, the extra light, the absence of street noise, increased security and the rarefied air). However, if a block doesn’t have a lift, apartments on lower floors may be the most expensive.
In cities, most properties are let unfurnished. Expect to pay up to 50 per cent more for a furnished property in a city.
Long-term contracts usually require tenants to pay gas, electricity and telephone bills, and may also include community (comunidad) fees, property taxes (IBI) and water rates, although these are usually paid by the owner. However, if these charges aren’t specifically mentioned in your contract, they’re the landlord’s responsibility.
If a property has a telephone installed you must usually pay a large deposit, e.g. EUR 200. Always have a contract checked by a lawyer if you don’t understand it. Long-term tenants must take out third party insurance for a property they’re renting.
